Kimbe town declared fighting zone

The provincial capital of West New Britain Province-Kimbe town has been declared as a fighting zone.

The West New Britain Provincial Peace and Good Order Committee resolved to declare the Kimbe Urban Local Level Government (LLG) as a fighting zone in a meeting on Monday this week.

Wards one and two of the Talasea LLG area were also declared fighting zones during the same meeting.

Kimbe Town Mayor and Provincial Peace and Good Order Committee Chairman, Nick Tupi confirmed that the declarations were made based on the recent surge in law-and-order issues in Kimbe Town and the surrounding communities in Wards One and Two of the Talasea LLG.

“Currently we have a surge in law-and-order issues, specifically inter-group fights in certain sections of the township as well as in the Talasea LLG and our priority now is to ensure the safety of law abiding and tax-paying citizens,” he clarified.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Steven Harris has also issued instructions to his officers to start implementing the Inter-Group fighting Act.

Under the Inter-Group Fighting Act, people can be arrested for fighting, preparing to fight or inciting fighting.

Those arrested and processed through the courts can expect sentences of two to four years imprisonment for fighting.